Ken Tuckerhttp://kanw.com
en'Sonic Trickster' Miguel Blends Genres And Melodies On 'Wildheart'http://kanw.com/post/sonic-trickster-miguel-blends-genres-and-melodies-wildheart
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=%27Sonic+Trickster%27+Miguel+Blends+Genres+And+Melodies+On+%27Wildheart%27&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDA5MTYwMDQ1MDEzMzE1ODcyMjRmY2FlMA004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>TERRY GROSS, HOST: <p>This is FRESH AIR. The singer and songwriter Miguel has just released his third album, called "Wildheart." He was born in LA, is still in his 20s and has cited influences ranging from Prince to Van Morrison.Tue, 21 Jul 2015 18:33:00 +0000Ken Tucker60502 at http://kanw.comJason Isbell's 'Something More Than Free' Rings With The Promise of Joyhttp://kanw.com/post/jason-isbells-something-more-free-rings-promise-joy
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Jason+Isbell%27s+%27Something+More+Than+Free%27+Rings+With+The+Promise+of+Joy&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDA1MjAzMDQ5MDEyNzM2OTA5ODMzNzMwOQ004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>TERRY GROSS, HOST: <p>This FRESH AIR.Tue, 14 Jul 2015 19:14:00 +0000Ken Tucker60235 at http://kanw.comCountry's Kacey Musgraves Mixes Wit And Sincerity In 'Pageant Material'http://kanw.com/post/countrys-kacey-musgraves-mixes-wit-and-sincerity-pageant-material
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Country%27s+Kacey+Musgraves+Mixes+Wit+And+Sincerity+In+%27Pageant+Material%27&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDA5MTYwMDQ1MDEzMzE1ODcyMjRmY2FlMA004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>TERRY GROSS, HOST: <p>This is FRESH AIR. Since her last album two years ago, Kacey Musgraves has won a couple of Grammy awards and become a symbol of country music rebellion.Mon, 06 Jul 2015 18:01:00 +0000Ken Tucker59896 at http://kanw.comLeon Bridges Offers Retro R&B With A Twist In 'Coming Home'http://kanw.com/post/leon-bridges-offers-retro-rb-twist-coming-home
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Leon+Bridges+Offers+Retro+R%26B+With+A+Twist+In+%27Coming+Home%27&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDA5MTYwMDQ1MDEzMzE1ODcyMjRmY2FlMA004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>DAVE DAVIES, HOST: <p>This is FRESH AIR. Growing up in Fort Worth, Tex., Leon Bridges started out listening to and making hip-hop music.Thu, 25 Jun 2015 19:15:00 +0000Ken Tucker59502 at http://kanw.comShamir Bailey Invites Everyone In, With Plenty Of Pop Star Potentialhttp://kanw.com/post/shamir-bailey-invites-everyone-plenty-pop-star-potential
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Shamir+Bailey+Invites+Everyone+In%2C+With+Plenty+Of+Pop+Star+Potential&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDA5MTYwMDQ1MDEzMzE1ODcyMjRmY2FlMA004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>TERRY GROSS, HOST: <p>This is FRESH AIR. Our rock critic Ken Tucker says the debut album by Shamir is one of the year's most striking albums, full of energy and optimism. Shamir is Shamir Bailey, a singer and songwriter in his early 20s from Las Vegas.Thu, 11 Jun 2015 17:28:00 +0000Ken Tucker58922 at http://kanw.comJoanna Gruesome's 'Peanut Butter' Rises Above The Band's Gimmicky Namehttp://kanw.com/post/joanna-gruesomes-peanut-butter-rises-above-bands-gimmicky-name
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Joanna+Gruesome%27s+%27Peanut+Butter%27+Rises+Above+The+Band%27s+Gimmicky+Name&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDA5MTYwMDQ1MDEzMzE1ODcyMjRmY2FlMA004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>TERRY GROSS, HOST: <p>This is FRESH AIR.Fri, 29 May 2015 19:03:00 +0000Ken Tucker58441 at http://kanw.comCountry Hit Writer Chris Stapleton Breaks Out On His Own In 'Traveller'http://kanw.com/post/country-hit-writer-chris-stapleton-breaks-out-his-own-traveller
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Country+Hit+Writer+Chris+Stapleton+Breaks+Out+On+His+Own+In+%27Traveller%27&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDA5MTYwMDQ1MDEzMzE1ODcyMjRmY2FlMA004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>TERRY GROSS, HOST: <p>This is FRESH AIR. Our rock critic Ken Tucker has a review of the debut solo album by Chris Stapleton. He's known for having written hit country song for artists such as George Strait, Darius Rucker, Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney.Thu, 14 May 2015 18:06:00 +0000Ken Tucker57859 at http://kanw.comNellie McKay Celebrates The '60s With 'My Weekly Reader'http://kanw.com/post/nellie-mckay-celebrates-60s-my-weekly-reader
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Nellie+McKay+Celebrates+The+%2760s+With+%27My+Weekly+Reader%27&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDA5MTYwMDQ1MDEzMzE1ODcyMjRmY2FlMA004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>DAVID BIANCULLI, HOST: <p>This is FRESH AIR. Nellie McKay's new album, "My Weekly Reader," is a collection of covers of songs made famous in the 1960s.Fri, 01 May 2015 19:41:00 +0000Ken Tucker57361 at http://kanw.comAlabama Shakes Opens New Territory On 'Sound & Color'http://kanw.com/post/alabama-shakes-opens-new-territory-sound-color
Over the course of <em>Sound & Color</em>, Alabama Shakes messes with what had already, after its first album, become its signature sound. <em>Fresh Air</em> rock critic Ken Tucker has this review. <div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Alabama+Shakes+Opens+New+Territory+On+%27Sound+%26+Color%27&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDA5MTYwMDQ1MDEzMzE1ODcyMjRmY2FlMA004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>TERRY GROSS, HOST: <p>This is FRESH AIR.Mon, 27 Apr 2015 17:31:00 +0000Ken Tucker57157 at http://kanw.comDwight Yoakam's 'Second Hand Heart' Is First Classhttp://kanw.com/post/dwight-yoakams-second-hand-heart-first-class
Dwight Yoakam has been making music that mixes country with rock 'n' roll since the 1970s. Working out of Los Angeles rather than Nashville, he's built a career that has also included a solid acting career, appearing in movies like 1996's <em>Sling Blade</em> and the recent TV series <em>Under the Dome</em>. Yoakam's new album is called <em>Second Hand Heart</em>, and <em>Fresh Air</em> rock critic Ken Tucker says it's one of Yoakam's most stylistically diverse. <div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR.Thu, 23 Apr 2015 19:14:00 +0000Ken Tucker57031 at http://kanw.comThe Mountain Goats' John Darnielle Finds Refuge In The Ringhttp://kanw.com/post/mountain-goats-john-darnielle-finds-refuge-ring
The Mountain Goats have a new album called <em>Beat The Champ</em>. It's unusual in that it is a concept album about professional wrestling, based on the interest in that sport band leader John Darnielle has had since he was a boy. Darnielle is also a prose writer whose novel <em>Wolf in White Van</em> was nominated for a 2014 National Book Award. <em>Fresh Air</em> rock critic Ken Tucker has this review. <div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR.Tue, 14 Apr 2015 18:29:00 +0000Ken Tucker56638 at http://kanw.comThere Is A Rich World In Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp A Butterfly'http://kanw.com/post/there-rich-world-kendrick-lamars-pimp-butterfly
Kendrick Lamar made a big impact for his storytelling skills on his 2012 major-label debut <em>Good Kid, M.a.a.d City</em>, and won two Grammys in February for the song "i." That song appears in Lamar's latest album, <em>To Pimp A Butterfly</em>, which <em>Fresh Air</em> music critic Ken Tucker says has an excitingly adventurous sound. <div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR.Thu, 09 Apr 2015 19:27:00 +0000Ken Tucker56469 at http://kanw.comCourtney Barnett Makes Ennui Vivid On Debut Albumhttp://kanw.com/post/courtney-barnett-makes-ennui-vivid-debut-album
Courtney Barnett is an Australian singer-songwriter in her late 20s who's just released her first full album. It's called <em>Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit</em>. Barnett fills her songs with details about things she observes around her, everyday details that <em>Fresh Air</em> rock critic Ken Tucker says she somehow manages to infuse with a freshness rare in any songwriter, let alone one this young. <div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR.Thu, 26 Mar 2015 19:31:00 +0000Ken Tucker55893 at http://kanw.comBrandi Carlile's Surging Voice Grounds 'The Firewatcher's Daughter'http://kanw.com/post/brandi-carliles-surging-voice-grounds-firewatchers-daughter
Brandi Carlile is a singer-songwriter who has cited influences as various as Elton John, Patsy Cline, and Queen's Freddie Mercury. Carlile has been releasing albums for the past 10 years, and <em>Fresh Air</em> rock critic Ken Tucker says her new one, called <em>The Firewatcher's Daughter</em>, is her best yet. <div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR.Mon, 16 Mar 2015 17:40:00 +0000Ken Tucker55470 at http://kanw.comJames McMurtry Is More Expressive Than Ever On 'Complicated Game'http://kanw.com/post/james-mcmurty-more-expressive-ever-complicated-game
<em>Complicated Game</em> is James McMurtry's first new studio album since 2008. The Texas-born singer-songwriter, now based in Austin, is known for songs with strong narratives and a blend of country, blues, and rock melodies. <em>Fresh Air</em> rock critic Ken Tucker says <em>Complicated Game</em> demonstrates a new range of style and subject matter for McMurtry. <div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR.Mon, 09 Mar 2015 19:32:00 +0000Ken Tucker55204 at http://kanw.comNora Jane Struthers Is Wide Awake On New Albumhttp://kanw.com/post/nora-jane-struthers-wide-awake-new-album
Nora Jane Struthers is a singer-songwriter who grew up in New Jersey and was teaching high-school English in Brooklyn before moving to Nashville to attempt a full-time career in music. With her band The Party Line, she's just released a new album called <em>Wake</em>. <em>Fresh Air</em> rock critic Ken Tucker has a review. <div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR.Wed, 04 Mar 2015 19:20:00 +0000Ken Tucker55007 at http://kanw.comMavericks' Singer Raul Malo Restlessly Explores Genreshttp://kanw.com/post/mavericks-singer-raul-malo-restlessly-explores-genres
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Mavericks%27+Singer+Raul+Malo+Restlessly+Explores+Genres&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDExMDQwMzQzMDEzNjMyMTE3MjRkNzlmNg004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>DAVE DAVIES, HOST: <p>The Mavericks' last album, "In Time," was a hit with critics and fans, reminding listeners of the veteran group's mixture of country, folk, pop and Latin styles.Wed, 25 Feb 2015 19:14:00 +0000Ken Tucker54719 at http://kanw.comRobert Earl Keen Delves Into Bluegrass With A Texan Twanghttp://kanw.com/post/robert-earl-keen-delves-bluegrass-texan-twang
<div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.<img src="http://www.google-analytics.com/__utm.gif?utmac=UA-5828686-4&utmdt=Robert+Earl+Keen+Delves+Into+Bluegrass+With+A+Texan+Twang&utme=8(APIKey)9(MDA0NTM3OTcyMDEyNjIwNDkzMjFhNTlkZg004)"/></div><p>Transcript <p>TERRY GROSS, HOST: <p>This is FRESH AIR. Robert Earl Keen is best known as a Texas-based singer-songwriter in the story-song tradition of Texas forbearers Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark.Wed, 18 Feb 2015 20:00:00 +0000Ken Tucker54438 at http://kanw.comBob Dylan Looks To The Ageless American Songbookhttp://kanw.com/post/bob-dylan-looks-ageless-american-songbook
Bob Dylan's unusual new album <em>Shadows in the Night</em> consists of ten cover versions of standards from the American Popular Songbook including "Autumn Leaves" and "Some Enchanted Evening." Dylan is accompanied by a five-piece band on songs that usually use orchestral accompaniment, and the singer has said the recordings were done live in "one or two takes." <em>Fresh Air</em> rock critic Ken Tucker says Dylan both infuses the songs with his personality, while also allowing them to be heard anew. <div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR.Tue, 03 Feb 2015 18:51:00 +0000Ken Tucker53815 at http://kanw.comSleater-Kinney Comes Roaring Back With 'No Cities To Love' http://kanw.com/post/sleater-kinney-comes-roaring-back-no-cities-love
Sleater-Kinney is one of the most widely-praised rock bands of the last 20 years. The band formed in the mid-90s in Olympia, Wash., and went on to record seven albums. The group split up in 2006, but have reunited to release a new album<em>, called No Cities to Love</em>, and <em>Fresh Air</em> rock critic Ken Tucker says it's a strong comeback. <div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR.Wed, 21 Jan 2015 17:13:00 +0000Ken Tucker53304 at http://kanw.comTy Segall Goes 3-D On 'Mr. Face' http://kanw.com/post/ty-segall-goes-3-d-mr-face
Ty Segall is 27 years old, and he does it all — writes, sings, produces, plays guitar and drums. He's released a large amount of music over the past decade, solo albums as well as working with other bands. <em>Fresh Air</em> rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Segall's new four-song EP, <em>Mr. Face</em>, and tries to get a fix on Segall's productivity. <div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2015 NPR.Mon, 12 Jan 2015 19:32:00 +0000Ken Tucker52932 at http://kanw.comD'Angelo's 'Black Messiah' Collapses Years, Genreshttp://kanw.com/post/dangelos-black-messiah-collapses-years-genres
D'Angelo has built a considerable reputation on the basis of three albums: 1995's <em>Brown Sugar</em>, 2000's <em>Voodoo</em>, and now <em>Black Messiah</em>, unexpectedly released early Monday morning. The singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist has been widely praised for connecting many decades of different rhythm & blues styles, and <em>Fresh Air</em> rock critic Ken Tucker says <em>Black Messiah</em> is as adventurous as any fan could hope for. <div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2014 NPR.Wed, 17 Dec 2014 18:12:00 +0000Ken Tucker51950 at http://kanw.comKen Tucker's Top 9 Albums Of 2014, Plus A Bookhttp://kanw.com/post/ken-tuckers-top-9-albums-2014-plus-book
<p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5PzW1ZkGlI</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHfZovOsXlI</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ORhEE9VVg</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJABBmAMXnY</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwNY3N5iQ2I</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd6aXM8WHGw</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AxIA4042WA</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkUIknxbg6Y</p><p>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Irvcf6dCk-k</p>Tue, 16 Dec 2014 19:24:00 +0000Ken Tucker51905 at http://kanw.comKen Tucker's Top 9 Albums Of 2014, Plus A BookA Punk Memoir That Makes The Ordinary Seem Transcendenthttp://kanw.com/post/punk-memoir-makes-ordinary-seem-transcendent
<em>Fresh Air</em> rock critic Ken Tucker says that one of the best books he's ever read about punk rock is a new memoir by Viv Albertine, one of the founding members of the British punk rock band the Slits. The book, titled <em>Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys. </em>chronicles Albertine's life with punk legends such as Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols and Mick Jones of the Clash, on through subsequent careers as a film director and mother. <div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2014 NPR.Fri, 05 Dec 2014 21:14:00 +0000Ken Tucker51478 at http://kanw.comFour Holiday Goodies, Including 'Christmas At Downton Abbey'http://kanw.com/post/four-holiday-goodies-including-christmas-downton-abbey
In the record industry, it's not too early to be releasing Christmas albums, and <em>Fresh Air</em> rock critic Ken Tucker has been listening to a lot of them. He's narrowed down his list of goodies to these four: <em>A Merry Friggin' Christmas</em> soundtrack, <em>Christmas at Downton Abby</em>, Earth Wind and Fire's <em>Holiday</em> and the Living Sisters' <em>Harmony is Real</em>. <div class="fullattribution">Copyright 2014 NPR.Tue, 25 Nov 2014 19:42:00 +0000Ken Tucker51069 at http://kanw.com